The following are updates to previously-reported items and other recent regulatory filings and actions concerning Upper Midwest broadcast stations. This report is created by the author and is not an official report of the FCC.
Iowa
Augustana College has applied to move K289BI/105.7 (Davenport) to 98.3, upgrading from 220 to 250 Watts. Its transmitter would remain on the Black Hawk College campus in Moline. The station says the frequency change is needed to resolve interference from WIXO/105.7 (Peoria). As reported previously, Augustana has been planning to move Classical music to the translator and WVIK-HD2 to make way for a full-time News format on WVIK’s main channel.
CSN International’s K215FN/90.9 (Des Moines) has returned to the air at fully-licensed power of 50 Watts after resolving transmitter issues.
The FCC granted Coloff Media’s KHAM/103.1 (Britt) a new construction permit to upgrade to 10kW/72m, replacing a previous permit that had expired.
Edge Spectrum’s K20KF-D (Davenport) requested another extension to its construction permit to resume operations to March 6, 2023. Its latest filing says Edge has faced supply chain issues and delays in obtaining site approvals and permissions. The station went silent after being displaced by the spectrum repack and has a construction permit to return to the air on channel 33.
Manitoba
Nostalgia Broadcasting Cooperative’s CJNU-FM/93.7 (Winnipeg) has applied to increase power from 460W to 2kW, remaining at its present downtown site. The station’s application says it routinely receives comments from that it cannot be received within its licensed area. It submitted letters of support from 13 non-profit groups supporting the request.
Michigan
The FCC granted West Central Michigan Media Ministries a construction permit for a new station on 88.9 in Houghton using 25kW/165m (class C2) and Cornerstone Community Radio a construction permit for a new station on 89.1 in Iron Mountain using 15kW/155m (class C2). As reported previously, the permittees were chosen using a point-based system that eliminated competing applications.
Minnesota
My Central Valley reported that new low-power TV station KMYN-LD/32 (Duluth) has been constructed as permitted, and a license to cover was granted.
Edge Spectrum reported that K25QC-D (Lake Crystal), formerly K43JE-D, has constructed its new facility on channel 25.
Edge Spectrum requested new extensions until March 6, 2023 for K44GH-D (Alexandria), K48KJ-D (Geneva), K38MM-D (International Falls), KTCJ-LD/13 (Minneapolis), KHVM-LD/18 (Minneapolis), K47JE-D (Olivia), K43MH-D (Vesta), and K47JC-D (Wadena) to resume broadcasting on their new channels. The stations need to change channels due to the 2020 discontinuation of channels 38 and up. The stations’ latest filings say Edge has faced supply chain issues and delays in obtaining site approvals and permissions.
Minnesota Public Radio reported that W226AY/93.1 (Hinckley) and W248AS/97.5 (Hinckley) have returned to the air following work this summer at the transmitter site.
Nebraska
Hickory Radio notified the FCC that K287CB/105.3 (Glenwood-Omaha) is now relaying KIBM/1490 (Omaha) following Hickory’s purchase of the station from CSN International. As reported previously, the asset purchase agreement implied that K287CB will eventually relay Hickory’s KCRO/660 (Omaha) because of a stipulation that K287CB and KCRO will carry the late Pastor Chuck Smith’s “The Word for Today” weekdays at 7 a.m. for the next decade.
MyBridge Radio’s K282AX/104.3 (Paxton) went off the air Aug. 29. The station’s request for special temporary authority to remain silent said they need to remove equipment “due to a change related to the tower owner” and they are searching for a new tower site.
Edge Spectrum’s K49LK-D (North Platte) requested another extension to its construction permit to resume operations to March 6, 2023. Its latest filing says Edge has faced supply chain issues and delays in obtaining site approvals and permissions. The station went silent after being displaced by the spectrum repack.
North Dakota
Edge Spectrum reported that new low-power TV station K34LO-D (Bismarck) has been constructed as permitted.
Edge Spectrum requested new extensions until March 6, 2023, to return K43JQ-D (Bismarck) and K42IM-D (Minot) to resume broadcasting on their new channels. The stations need to change channels due to the 2020 discontinuation of channels 38 and up. The stations’ latest filings say Edge has faced supply chain issues and delays in obtaining site approvals and permissions.
The FCC approved a downgrade to the construction permit for new station KQYZ/99.1 (Emerado) from 6kW/100m to 100W/15m.
Translators K293BN/106.5 (Bowman) and K274CC/102.7 (New England), which Northwestern Media is in the process of buying, have applied to switch from directional to non-directional antennas, expanding their reach. K293BN will also upgrade from 68 to 92 Watts while K274CC will remain 50 Watts.
South Dakota
K292EC/106.3 (Hot Springs), which Northwestern Media is in the process of buying, has applied to move to 106.7 and upgrade from 68 to 115 Watts.
Wisconsin
Cumulus Media’s WDUZ-FM/107.5 (Brillion-Green Bay) reported that it is operating at 20% of its normal power due to a transmitter problem. WDUZ-FM normally transmits with 3.6kW/268m (class C3).
Edge Spectrum’s W39CV-D (Minocqua) requested another extension to its construction permit to resume operations to March 6, 2023. Its latest filing says Edge has faced supply chain issues and delays in obtaining site approvals and permissions. The station went silent after being displaced by the spectrum repack and has a construction permit to return to the air on channel 35 as W35DM-D.
The FCC has approved Civic Media’s purchase of WRCO-FM/100.9, WRCO/1450, and WRCO translator W299DD/107.7 (Richland Center) from Fruit Broadcasting. A callsign change request indicates that the AM station will change its callsign to WRCE on Sept. 15.